Submit your film

Submissions to our 2016 Festival are now closed.

Short film submissions MUST:

Have been Directed and/or Written by a female filmmaker. Co-gender productions will be considered.

Be 30 minutes or under in length, including credits;

Have been completed after June, 2015;

Include an English language track or English language subtitles.

About Feature length dramas and documentaries (+30 minutes):

Feature-length dramas and documentaries will be selected by curation only at this time. We are most grateful, however, to receive expressions of interest from female feature filmmakers. Please write to info@womensfilmfestival.com, including:
– Your feature film’s title
– Name of Director(s) Writer(s) and Producer(s)
– A brief synopsis
– Date of completion
– Runtime, including credits
– Status of release
– Trailer link

We will direct your email to our Programming Committee. If we are able consider your feature film for SJIWFF27 we will contact you to request a screener.

*Please ensure that your package is marked “NO COMMERCIAL VALUE.” Any package incurring brokerage fees will be returned unopened.

You can also submit films online through Withoutabox.

Entries will be viewed by a programming committee and entrants will be notified of the decision regarding their film/video in September 2016. Submission copies will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, prepaid envelope or a courier account number.

If your film is accepted to the Festival, our accepted Exhibition Copy formats are as follows:

Tape formats, in order of preference:

HDCAM-SR 23.98 or 59.94

HDCAM 23.98 or 59.94

XDCAM-HD 23.98 or 59.94

DVCProHD (59.94 Preferred)

HDV (59.94, a.k.a. 60i, Preferred)

The frame rate, aspect ratio/letterboxing and audio layout must be specified on the tape label.

File Formats:

Quicktime MOV, using the following codecs in order of preference: – AVID DNxHD 145

– Apple ProRes 422 (regular, not HQ or LT)

– H.264

Frame rate, aspect ratio/letterboxing and audio layout should be specified in the file name or in an accompanying text file.

All Audio in the .mov files should be uncompressed Linear PCM.

MKV files are not acceptable, due to the difficulty in dealing with them.

NOTE: H.264 Quicktime files should only be used as a method to reduce file size for internet delivery. They are very highly compressed, requiring some additional processing to make the reels, and as such can actually degrade the quality and increase the time required to assemble the reels.

The film must start at an even hour timecode, and preferably be preceded by a two beep or two pop which consists of one frame of bars and tone.

Exhibition copies of selected films/videos will be returned after the Festival by regular mail (unless specified otherwise and paid by the entrant). The Festival is not responsible in case of accidental damage or loss of entries, except when in the Festival’s possession. In case of loss or damage to a print, the obligation of the Festival is limited to compensating the filmmakers for the cost of making a new print.The Festival reserves the right to use excerpts (up to three minutes) and to reproduce photos of the production for promotion and publicity purposes.

The Festival Committee has the power to decide on any matters not specifically dealt with in these regulations. Notice of participation implies acceptance of these regulations. In any dispute, the decision of the Festival Committee will be final.

Submission Tips:

SUBMIT COMPLETE: We must receive your complete application with screener and the entry fee applicable to place your film into consideration. If you need help to complete your submission, please contact us at info@womensfilmfestival.com.

ABOUT WAIVERS: We are only able to grant fee waivers to filmmakers whose work has been screened at a prior SJIWFF. When requesting a fee waiver, indicate the title and Festival year of your last selected submission(s).

PROTECT YOUR WORK: If submitting your film as an online screener it must be protected by password. Include both link and password in your submission. The Festival is not responsible for submission screeners damaged or lost enroute to us. In case of damage to a received exhibition copy, the obligation of the Festival is limited to compensating the filmmakers for the cost of making a new print.

A WEE FEE REMINDER: If you are submitting by mail/courier from Canada, we can accept personal or company cheques. If submitting by mail/courier from outside Canada, we can only accept international money orders in CAD. We are not able to process non-Withoutabox electronic fee payments at this time.

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